Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Cupcakes of cheer!


My store manager scheduled the Holiday Meeting at the end of October in order to go over seasonal drink recipes, holiday merchandise and Christmas-time promotions which rolled out in early November. This annual, mandatory store meeting was scheduled to end at 9:00pm which is not only after our store hours but it's also outside of many of my co-workers' availability (mine included). 





To sweeten the unsavory deal, one of our Shift Supervisors, Tatiana, told us that she would bring cupcakes to the meeting! Sure enough, she showed up right on time and unveiled a Tupperware filled with more than enough Red Velvet cupcakes for everyone! With a  dash of green sprinkles over the frosting, her cupcakes had the traditional Christmas color combo of red and green and I quickly gave in to the soft aroma their of sugary goodness. 














Before my first bite, Tatiana told me that she couldn't find cream-cheese frosting at the store so she used a Vanilla frosting by Betty Crocker. The sweet plain vanilla went well with the richness of red velvet and I enjoyed the variation to the the standard Red Velvet Cream Cheese Frosting pairing. 
It wasn't as rich and decedent...it was a little more sweet and it was just as delicious. 










She used a Duncan Hines cake mix and baked a delicately moist cake that definitely had the signature red velvet flavor and vibrant color with a freshness that you only get with cupcakes baked the same day. I couldn't resist the scrumptious distraction and stuffed my face with two cupcakes before our two hour Holiday meeting was over!









Since then, Tatiana has put in her two weeks to move on to bigger and better things at the job of her dreams! It has been a joy to work with Tatiana: she's hard worker with a heart of gold and she always knows how to make her co-workers smile, inside and outside of work. I'm really going to miss working with this lovely lady but I couldn't be more happy for her! Flying the friendly skies will be even more friendly now. :) 

Good luck TT! 

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr @ The Fillmore 10/22/2014

There's been  a lot of buzz in SF since their 2011 debut, It's a Corporate World but the  turnout was surprisingly sparse at The Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr show at The Fillmore on October 22nd.
 
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ The Fillmore 10/22/2014
Photo by Marc Fong
 

 
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ The Fillmore 10/22/2014
Photo by Marc Fong
The foursome from Detroit spaciously stretched across the stage in front of a set of fun marquee lights that read  JR JR whose bright bulbs initiated the playfulness the band is known for. Show goers at The Fillmore were delightfully receptive to the chirpy electro-tinged tunes of the lighthearted indie-pop set: murmuring the lyrics to songs and toe-tapping along. Epstein and Zott's warm harmonies accentuated the intricate layers of upbeat hooks while their vocals added an indie touch to the danceable tracks.
 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ The Fillmore 10/22/2014
Photo by Marc Fong
 
 
 
 
What their sort of subdued stage presence lacked was made up for by the sunny disposition of their songs and the surprise cascade of bubbles!
The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. tour ends this weekend with back to back hometown shows at The Crofoot Ballroom.







Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Kimbra @ The Independent 10/20/2014

Kimbra at The Independent 10/20/2014
Photo by Marc Fong



New Zealand-born, Australian-based songstress, Kimbra performed in San Francisco for the very first time to a sold-out crowd at The Independent on October 20th.





 
 
 
 
The musical taste of the 24th year old singer/songwriter/musician is unique to say the least: with her soulful ballad singing style and an experimental funk, electro-pop fusion inspired by the liking of prog rock and metal, Kimbra's sound stretches across the spectrum.
 
 
Kimbra at The Independent 10/20/2014
Photo by Marc Fong
Kimbra at The Independent 10/20/2014
Photo by Marc Fong

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beaming in a cape of gold which she soon shed to reveal a structured shiny silver dress seemingly made of sheets of reflective metal, she mirrored an imaginative image of the name of her 2014 album, The Golden Echo but it was her fiery smile and bubbly spirit that really shined.
 
Kimbra at The Independent 10/20/2014
Photo by Marc Fong
 

Kimbra at The Independent 10/20/2014
Photo by Marc Fong
 
 Keyboardist Ben Davey and Synth mixer Fegan Wilcox from her first album Vows were missing but the familiar faces of drummer Stevie McQuinn and guitarist Timon Martin were joined by two new bandmates and the five of them jive exceedingly well live. Exploring the multifaceted genre of pop music, songs from her first album have a more modern, soulful spin while the new stuff weighs in heavy on the pop platform with her signature Kimbra twist.
 All of her songs remain youthful and fun with a mature appeal.


Kimbra at The Independent 10/20/2014
Photo by Marc Fong
 
 
Meticulous melodies colorful with vigorous drums and rhythmic guitar were brought to life by
Kimbra's age defying bellowing vocals juxtaposed  with her composed frenzy of charactercher-ish expressions. 








Shout outs to San Fran sprinkled the set which was dominated by catchy jazz inspired melodies which carried the theatrical pop songs, old ("Settle Down", "Two Way Street", "Something in the Way You Are", "Cameo Lover") and new ("Teen Heat", "Carolina", "90's Music", "Goldmine", "Rescue Him", "Nobody But You").
 
Kimbra at The Independent 10/20/2014
Photo by Marc Fong

Kimbra at The Independent 10/20/2014
Photo by Marc Fong
 
 
 
Kimbra definitely knows how to put on a show. She relentlessly impresses beyond her undeniable musical capabilities with an effervescent crowd interaction and endearing showmanship which will surely lend a hand in selling out the remaining shows of The Golden Echo Tour.





Sunday, November 16, 2014

Mini Carrot and Pumpkin Cupcakes



 
My cousin Shannon did a lovely job turning the banquet room at the Wildfox Restaurant in Novato into a cute and cozy space fit for a baby shower, her baby shower to be exact! Along with her DIY burlap banners and big fluffy homemade tissue decorations, the mommy to be also displayed some baby clothes she knitted herself and next to this adorable display lay a plate filled with cute mini-cupcakes!




 
 
The dessert menu at the Rustic-Chic restaurant isn't as extensive as the lunch menu ,so my cousin Shannon brought the mini cupcakes from Paradise Market in Novato












Carrot Cake and Pumpkin were the "Autumn appropriate" flavors she chose for the shower and they looked so small and cute with little spiral dollops of  frosting! 
 
 
Paradise Market bakes some of their cake/cupcakes in house, but these two particular flavors are delivered to the grocery store daily from an outside, local bakery. So, even though they were store bought, they were fresh and fresh cupcakes are always best!
 
The Carrot Cake had generous shreds of carrot inside along with a smidge of spice. A lot of carrot cake that I have had doesn't have carrots packed in like that and, there were no raisins, at least in the mini carrot cupcake I had anyway. The cream cheese frosting was sweet and not too cream cheesy, with heaps of walnut pieces on top!





I didn't pick up on the Pumpkin in the other mini cupcake, however,  soft hints of sweet spice did lace the "Pumpkin" cake. Though you could see flecks of spice throughout it's spice frosting,  it was just a subtle spicy sweetness.
The frosting on both mini cupcakes was super creamy but I don't think that it was  buttercream frosting and both of the cakes of these mini cupcakes were velvety fresh.

















After a big lunch these little treats were just right as family and friends continued to celebrate the Mommy to be and her (then) bun in the oven, Baby Quinn.

Congrats cousin! Next year we get to eat cake at Baby Quinn's first Birthday Party!

 
 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Smallpools are coming to The Independent in San Francisco!








Smallpools are selling out shows across the country on their current headlining, North American tour. 

The Los Angeles based indie-pop quartet will be wrapping up their 29 date, month long run in Vancouver on November 25th with Magic Man and Panama Wedding. Before they cross the border up North, Smallpools is bring the same line-up to the The Independent in San Francisco on November 20th! 










Check out  Smallpools' Instagram for details on how to win a private drum lesson from their drummer Beau at every show while the're on the road! 












Thursday, November 13, 2014

Pillar Point open for Of Montreal @ The Great American Music Hall 10/15/2014

 
Both Of Montreal shows at The Great American Music Hall on October 14th and 15th were sold out but before they took the stage, Seattle based genre bending band, Pillar Point kept the crowd grooving with synthy-indie tunes following an explosive set from the openers, Battlehooch.
 
Pillar Point opening for Of Montreal @ The Great American Music Hall 10/15/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong
 
 
Singer/songwriter Scott Reitherman of the indie-pop band, Throw Me the Statue, explores the depths of melancholy electronica with his new solo project, Pillar Point, with a subtle, sparkly flare.
The Bay Area native was joined on stage by a fellow synthesizer player and a drummer, while he himself jumped between his own synths and guitar giving his sound a shoe-gaze spin. His demeanor was cool as he delivered textured dance beats from the self-titled 2014 debut LP, which flowed over the room of chatty, swaying show goers. Picking up the tempo by the third song, Reitherman had warmed up to the crowd by then and the sense of him finding his comfort zone on stage brightened up the vibe of the show.  Mellow, yellow hues and swirling pops of bright light accentuated the youthful vibrance to the otherwise sleepy songs, like the single "Dreamin". His enthusiastic performance left him drenched in sweat which you could see seeping through his long-sleeved button up.
 
 
Pillar Point @ The Great American Music Hall 10/15/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong
Pillar Point @ The Great American Music Hall 10/15/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong







 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Of Montreal @ The Great American Music Hall 10/15/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong
 
 
 
 
 
 
The bands on the bill that night each have an element of experimentation within their indie-rack stature: Battlehooch with their ensemble of progressive jam-rock, Pillar Point's layered, sullen synth filled, danceable emo-electro-rock and the modern day disco, funky, folky sounds from glam rock/performance art headliners Of Montreal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comparably different, the opening bands complimented each other well and were warmly welcomed and enjoyed by Of Montreal fans eager for the final act.
 
Of Montreal @ The Great American Music Hall 10/15/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong
 






Sunday, November 9, 2014

Zola Jesus @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/8/2014

One day after the release of her second studio album Zola Jesus premiered the tour in support of Taiga at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco! 



Zola Jesus @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/8/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini
Zola Jesus @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/8/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini























The eclectic artist drew a diverse group to the classy venue ranging from middle aged men sharing stories about the seven times they've seen Zola Jesus, younger flamboyant drunk guys starting fights in the front with uptight ladies and a good mix of grown-up goths.I was glad that I got there a little bit early because the show started 15 minutes before it was scheduled to! A towering 3-D glacier faintly illuminated the full brass section on the right as well as the keyboardist and the drummer on the left as the star of the show took center stage. I knew it was the record release show, however I was a little surprised when I realized that the new album was  being played in it's entirety seeing that it had just been released the day before. Faithful fans showered the top of each song of the set with joyful applause



Zola Jesus @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/8/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini
Zola Jesus @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/8/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini






















Though small in size, Nika Roza Danilova (better known by her stage name Zola Jesus) carries a monumentous stage presence with a fierce energy and the positive reaction from fans fueled her fire. She transformed into a force larger than life right in front of our eyes with strong, unique and steady baritone vocals paired with interesting dancing and intense stomping fits, the 25 year old single-handedly conveys an inviting assurance. There were hardly pauses between songs but at one point, under a character breaking small bashful smile, she addressed her SF fans directly thanking them for the support from the very beginning and for their continued support. As wild cheers arose she went on: "this is strangely...exhilerating...it's been a while..." .

Zola Jesus @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/8/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini







Zola Jesus @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/8/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini
The dark yet positive music sounded great in the small room at Bimbo's and just 45 minutes into the set Zola Jesus announced the next song would be the last. "Don't worry, we'll be back" she told whimpering fans. The  final exchange was touching and quite fitting  for the final song of the show, "It's Not Over." 

Zola Jesus waved and thanked us for the support as she walked off the stage of her successful first show of the Taiga tour! Taiga is available to enjoy on iTunes and Spotify!




SET LIST 10/8/2014
1. Taiga
2. Dangerous Days
3. Dust
4. Hunger
5. Go (Blank Sea) 
6. Ego
7. Lawless
8. Nail
9. Hollow
10. Long Way Down 
11. It's Not Over